Unleashing the Power of Theatre!
As we raise the curtain in 2023, I wish you a happy New Year, health and success! Here is a a quick note and sharing a few updates.
Last year was an unbelievable year, with seven shows all across the country, including two new states. The American Soldier has now performed in 43 cities! If you had told me that when I first performed on that rainy Sunday night with eight audience members back in 2015 on the lower east side of Manhattan, I'd still be going, I would have thought you were crazy.
Thank you to all of those who made this journey possible. There are too many to name in this email, but you know, I know who you are. Thank you for your friendship and support!
It has been so special for me to use an art form I love so much to be a powerful form of healing. To be able to provide a space for reflection for all Americans to see what we all have in common. And to give a genuine understanding of what our veteran's and their family's military experience truly is. It has also been an honor of helping other veterans connect with other combat warriors who have been through similar challenges.
That is the wonder of the art of theater. It creates a shared understanding while fostering a community with everyone in the theater - for the audience and the performer. We get to experience something special on stage together for that one night, and it never leaves us. It becomes part of our soul; together, we are transported to another world and can reflect the mirror of life onto all of us.
But most importantly, it allows us to share an important message with our soldiers and military families, that they are not alone and that their community and country care.
To our veterans, the stage is yours. We stand in awe of your service and bravery and are honored to have you as our audience. We can never thank you enough!
Below you can view testimonials of two of the three shows on the last leg of my tour in November (Ohio and Illinois). I have also shared some beautiful images from my performance in New Jersey. (Photography by Tina Collela)
